Dropping out of uni to do the same course in another, better uni

What is the course in question? Note that for medicine, medical schools normally do not consider applicants who have started but not completed a medical degree anywhere else, usually for any reason. So leaving a medical degree before finishing will effectively have you blacklisted from UK medical schools.

Oxford formally state they do not consider applicants currently at other unis except in exceptional circumstances, and would expect strong support from the university you are currently studying at. You will not receive an academic reference with strong support from your current uni in time for the Oxbridge deadline, so functionally the only way to apply to Oxford would be to then apply in the second year of the course, at which point you have overshot your SFE entitlement for the new course. Cambridge I believe don't consider such applicants at all.

For most other courses and unis it's theoretically possible but an absurd prospect - just take a gap year and reapply like a normal person. Also there is practically no way you can retake A-levels while doing a degree. Firstly there is absolutely zero facility to resolve any clashes between uni exams and A-level exams - and if you are reapplying to a uni elsewhere they very well may also stipulate you achieve a specified result in your first year of uni (even if that is just a pass). It's also completely impractical to expect to have time to revise for your A-level exams and your uni exams at the same time.

Tell your parents that you're either retaking your A-levels and going to the "better" uni, or you are going to the uni you have gotten into and will be finishing your degree there. You should never under any circumstances begin a degree at one uni you do not intend to finish. And I say this as someone who has done that (and had nothing but trouble come from it).

Hello, thanks for your reply The course that I am interested in is architecture. The university I want to reapply to is Manchester which I already got accepted into last year but I just did not make the entry requirements. I may also do UCL but that is my most opportunistic idea, I wouldn't do Oxbridge.

The problem is my parents don't believe that I can get 3 As. I already got two Bs and to be honest the only reason I didn't achieve what I wanted was because I was undergoing problems during the 1/2 months leading to my A levels, but I don't want to get into that. I also now have full motivation to achieve 3A's which I think is quite easy as I already know most of the subject contents, and I am able to study at home and not waste time in lessons. However, my parents want the (in my opinion) rubbish university I am going to as a backup in case I don't get 3 A's. Do you really think that it is impossible to revise while doing the course, as I do know quite a lot of the content?

May I ask what had happened in your circumstance? I really don't want to go as it will be a waste of money, time and I would have to put extra effort in revising and studying my course but I don't really have an option as my parents would probably kick me out of the house lol.

Hello, thanks for your reply The course that I am interested in is architecture. The university I want to reapply to is Manchester which I already got accepted into last year but I just did not make the entry requirements. I may also do UCL but that is my most opportunistic idea, I wouldn't do Oxbridge.

The problem is my parents don't believe that I can get 3 As. I already got two Bs and to be honest the only reason I didn't achieve what I wanted was because I was undergoing problems during the 1/2 months leading to my A levels, but I don't want to get into that. I also now have full motivation to achieve 3A's which I think is quite easy as I already know most of the subject contents, and I am able to study at home and not waste time in lessons. However, my parents want the (in my opinion) rubbish university I am going to as a backup in case I don't get 3 A's. Do you really think that it is impossible to revise while doing the course, as I do know quite a lot of the content?

May I ask what had happened in your circumstance? I really don't want to go as it will be a waste of money, time and I would have to put extra effort in revising and studying my course but I don't really have an option as my parents would probably kick me out of the house lol.

Yeah, but it's a while since you did your A-levels and you may get rusty. Studying at home can also increase procrastination. So make sure you get website blockers to help you with that.

If it's only those problems, retake and I think you should be able to get AAA. Or better. It may not be impossible but it'll take a lot of time. I suppose you cana convince your parents you can very likely get the 3As.

This plan is nonsensical. Either you go to the so called rubbish university or you resit in the hope of going elsewhere. You need to stand up to your parents. It is your life and you need to to take a decision not your parents. When are you going to act as an adult instead of a child. What isnt clear is what is behind your parents actions. Do they feel let down and think you didnt do enough work and think you wont do the work if you take the gap year.

Whatever you decide going to a university in the hope of going elsewhere isnt a sensible option. It isnt just the fees there is also the cost of living. Who is paying the extra year back. You or your parents. You need to discuss this with your parents but ultimately it is your decision. You dont say why you dont want to go to a rubbish university or if that is really the case Are you just thinking above your capabilities. We dont know you so cannot comment but that appears to be parents view. By the way what university is the rubbish one.

I wish, but they'd probably kick me out, take away my stuff or something like that and I wouldn't hear the end of it. Yes I don't think they believe I can achieve 3A's and will waste the year but I know its not that hard as long as I revise consistently, since technically I am a year ahead of all the other students taking the exam.

My parents said that they would pay for everything and I would be living at home, but it's annoying me since its such a waste of money. And also it is making my chances of getting an offer from other unis more difficult, as they would all see that I am enrolled in one. I DO know that I can go to a way better uni, the one I have to go to right now is LSBU which respectfully I know I would regret for the next 3 years.

Hello, thanks for your reply The course that I am interested in is architecture. The university I want to reapply to is Manchester which I already got accepted into last year but I just did not make the entry requirements. I may also do UCL but that is my most opportunistic idea, I wouldn't do Oxbridge.

The problem is my parents don't believe that I can get 3 As. I already got two Bs and to be honest the only reason I didn't achieve what I wanted was because I was undergoing problems during the 1/2 months leading to my A levels, but I don't want to get into that. I also now have full motivation to achieve 3A's which I think is quite easy as I already know most of the subject contents, and I am able to study at home and not waste time in lessons. However, my parents want the (in my opinion) rubbish university I am going to as a backup in case I don't get 3 A's. Do you really think that it is impossible to revise while doing the course, as I do know quite a lot of the content?

May I ask what had happened in your circumstance? I really don't want to go as it will be a waste of money, time and I would have to put extra effort in revising and studying my course but I don't really have an option as my parents would probably kick me out of the house lol.

My parents said that they would pay for everything and I would be living at home, but it's annoying me since its such a waste of money. And also it is making my chances of getting an offer from other unis more difficult, as they would all see that I am enrolled in one. I DO know that I can go to a way better uni, the one I have to go to right now is LSBU which respectfully I know I would regret for the next 3 years.

Note that just getting 3 As at A-level isn't going to guarantee you will get into architecture at Manchester. If your portfolio is weak then you're no closer than if you hadn't bothered resitting the A-levels. They also normally want to see a broad portfolio using a variety of media and usually like to see not just purely architectural pieces as well. So you'd realistically need to be looking at not only resitting your A-levels, but also ensuring you have a strong portfolio. I can't see how you can do both while on a degree programme - I don't even think you can just do the one while on a degree programme.

That said, have you considered an art foundation (FAD) course? You can read more about them here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5017684 They're very commonly taken by those applying to creative arts and design subjects (including architecture) and are FE level study (not HE), so you don't apply to SFE for funding and they don't affect your SFE funding entitlement - usually if you do them the year after you finish your A-levels you do not have to pay fees, unless you had to take a year out during your education previously. Of course you don't get a maintenance loan and if you would be aiming to restart from this year, you may find it hard finding one with an available spot. But this might be a better way to satisfy your parent's desires while following your plan to some extent...

Also since they are purely design based, they are an excellent preparation for architecture and understanding what an architecture degree is liek, and developing your portfolio considerably. A secondary corollary of that is that it might be more feasible to arrange to retake your A-levels at the same time, as at the very least you most likely won't have exam clashes. That said time may be in short supply for preparing for your A-level resits still. Trying to do them during an architecture degree would just be impossible though as you have the same or even less time available, but you will also have exams at the uni with no way to resolve clashes with your A-level resit exams.


The big picture of it is, if I had just taken a gap year or two to figure things out I could've avoided all of this, and still gotten my degree sooner and more painlessly. So yes, my opinion is that you shouldn't start a degree you don't intend to finish.

They offered me a place last year after viewing my portfolio, so I may just have to resubmit that including a few new pieces that I worked with just so they know that I created new stuff for this portfolio. I don't think the portfolios would be an issue, it is more about the time as I know i would struggle to do both my a levels and a very competitive course.

I have heard about that actually. Although, I don't think it would be much use for me as I already have a strong portfolio and just want a free year to retake my a levels. And like you said, most places would be fully booked so it would be too much of a hassle. I assume that most of an architecture degree would be coursework based but even so is there no way to reschedule university exams? I would definitely have to prioritise my a level exams as I really don't care about getting amazing grades for this course, knowing that I will be moving either way.

Oh i see, did you move the first time because you didn't like your course or the uni itself? That really sucks, do you not get any financial help from family etc? Even so, I know a person who got her law degree at nearly 40 and now she's doing very great in life so maybe just save up until you can afford to complete a full degree and don't give up.

I think I could handle it ngl as long as I revise whenever I have free time.

Do you think if i drop out after the first term just to focus on my a levels, will it affect my application? Because I don't really have an excuse for wanting to do the same course in another university other than I am just not satisfied by it.

I wish, but they'd probably kick me out, take away my stuff or something like that and I wouldn't hear the end of it. Yes I don't think they believe I can achieve 3A's and will waste the year but I know its not that hard as long as I revise consistently, since technically I am a year ahead of all the other students taking the exam.

My parents said that they would pay for everything and I would be living at home, but it's annoying me since its such a waste of money. And also it is making my chances of getting an offer from other unis more difficult, as they would all see that I am enrolled in one. I DO know that I can go to a way better uni, the one I have to go to right now is LSBU which respectfully I know I would regret for the next 3 years.